Free SHS Policy: Old tweet of Mahama calling the policy a misplaced priority resurfaces

After former President John Dramani Mahama claimed to have launched the Free SHS policy in 2015 under a progressive arrangement, an old tweet from the National Democratic Congress flagbearer resurfaced, labelling the policy as a misplaced priority.

The tweet from John Dramani Mahama’s official account in 2012 downplayed the necessity of the free Senior High School policy. In it, Mahama advocated for the implementation of free basic education for primary students instead.

“Free SHS is a misplaced priority if primary school pupils still pay fees. Let’s make primary free first,” his tweet read.

Netizens have brought attention to the tweet following recent comments made by Mahama regarding the Free SHS policy during his media encounter on Sunday, July 7.

Critics question how Mahama can claim to have launched the Free SHS policy if his previous reservations about its implementation were seen as insincere or lacking good faith. The resurfaced old tweet contradicts his assertion of launching the policy.

During his media encounter, Mahama dismissed concerns that an NDC government would cancel the policy if it returned to power, reassuring the public and his supporters that the Free SHS policy would not be reversed or abolished if the NDC regained power.

“Free SHS has come to stay. Nobody can roll it back,” Mahama said during his encounter with the media in Accra.

“What we are saying is let’s improve the implementation, remove the bottlenecks, abolish the double track system, and decentralize the school feeding program,” he added.